How much does a truck driver make in the United States?

Are you thinking of dedicating yourself to the transportation industry as a truck driver or tugboat in the United States? From now on we tell you that it is a great option because this sector is expanding and there is a strong demand for drivers. Now you probably want to know how much does a truck driver make in the United States And how do you calculate your income, right? Read on, we'll explain it to you soon.

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How much does a truck driver make in the United States?

If you want to know how much a truck driver earns in the US, we have good news for you. Driving trucks on the freeway (or long-haul) is a high-demand and well-paid job in the United States. In order for you to understand how much a truck driver earns in the United States, we will begin our explanation by sharing some figures.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the government agency that publishes employment data in the United States, The average salary for heavy truck and tractor trailer drivers in 2020 was $ 47,130 per year or $ 22.66 per hour. The lowest paid 10% earned less than $ 30,660 per year and the highest paid 10% earned more than $ 69,480 per year. Furthermore, these wages have grown at an annual rate higher than that of inflation.

The trend is clear, truck driving is a growing and profitable career in America.

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What determines the salary of truck drivers?

With the information we've shared so far, you already have an overview of how much a truck driver in the United States earns. However, knowing exactly the salary of a truck driver is not so simple as it depends on some factors such as your industry of work or occupation, experience, CDL license, the state you work in, the company for which you provide your services, among others. Next, we will analyze some of them.

How much does a truck driver earn in the US depending on the type of work he does

The trucking industry offers a wide variety of driving occupations, from hauling heavy machinery across the country to delivering local food. Due to this variety of driving options, drivers' incomes are also different. We can therefore say that the salary of a truck driver depends on:

• what drives
• what it brings
• where are you going
• The time it takes to arrive

There are several types of truck drivers: long-range and local. Long-haul truckers typically drive long distances across the country and typically earn a higher salary than their short-haul colleagues.

Long-distance transportation, known as "over-the-road" (OTR), is more than a job, it's a lifestyle. The life of a tugboat or truck driver is not for everyone, due to the demands of the job. Therefore, Trucking companies are always on the lookout for long-haul drivers and are willing to pay more to get them.

Local or short-haul truck drivers typically make less money due to several factors, including being paid by the hour instead of miles. Although the salary is lower, these jobs are also interesting because the drivers have more time to spend at home and with the family.

Due to the demand for time at home, there is an emerging work option for drivers known as "regional". These drivers are generally 500 - 700 miles from their home terminal and can go home 2/3 times a week. These jobs pay about the same as OTR positions and can usually be insured with one year of verifiable experience. Due to the population density, geography, and freight transportation available, these jobs are primarily east of I-35.

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How much does a truck driver earn in the US according to his experience

What a truck driver earns in the United States is also tied to the experience he or she has behind the wheel. Obviously, a driver will start at the bottom of the pay scale. If you go to a trucking company to get your training and license, they will most likely pay you a flat weekly rate.. Most companies average around $ 500 per week during the training period.

After training, most companies will be willing to pay you between $ 0.27 and $ 0.40 per mile. Smaller trucking companies often set a higher lower limit, around $ 0.35 per mile.

With a larger "training" company, you can expect to earn between $ 38,000 and $ 40,000 annually. With a good smaller company, you can expect to range anywhere from $ 42,000 to $ 44,000 per year.

While these rates may seem low, you should keep this in mind most companies work with sliding wage scales and after six months or a year the payment increases. Most companies typically set annual increments of up to a number of years, usually three years.

Higher-paying jobs generally require a CDL license, some experience, and some approvals. Below you will find a table with some examples of job offers in the sector.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/ (December 2021)

As can be seen in the table above, the experience a driver may have is very important to occupy a truck driver position. But even more important than experience is the CDL license, a prerequisite for obtaining good monetary compensation.

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How much does a truck driver make in the United States if he has a CDL and if he doesn't?

Having the CDL gives you a huge advantage over someone who doesn't. An employer will almost always select a truck driver with a commercial driving license (CDL) and not someone who doesn't.

In the table below you can see the difference in hourly wages offered to a driver with a CDL license and one who does not.

How much does a truck driver earn in the US depending on where he works

The earning potential for truck racing is quite substantial across the United States. However, There are some variations in the average earnings of heavy truck and tractor trailer drivers that do not appear to be related to the cost of living.

For drivers who want to maximize their income, it might be a good option to apply for positions with a low cost of living region and increased earning potential. If this is your case, the following tables will be very helpful.

US states where truckers are best paid

Source: https://www.bls.gov/ (2020)

City in the United States where truckers are best paid

Source: https://www.bls.gov/ (2020)

How much does a truck driver make with his truck?

When you own your own truck and become an "owner-operator" truck driver, your income can increase by up to 50%, depending on how well you run your business and how good the transport cycle is. Owner-operators negotiate their rates directly with customers and receive full payment. This means that they have full control over their earnings based on their income and how they manage their expenses.

Some of the expenses you should consider include truck payments, trailer payments, insurance, different licenses, etc. Also, you will have to work to find your customers, as they will not be delivered to you by a courier.

Unlike a driver who works for a trucking company, the amount of money you will earn in any given year is not guaranteed. However, with the right business management skills you can make a lot of money, 50% or more of what you would earn working for a carrier.

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How do truckers make money in the US?

Knowing how much truckers earn in the US will be very helpful if you want to start providing your services as a truck driver. But it is also important to know the income model of the sector. We will explain it to you soon.

How the amounts a truck driver receives are calculated

In the transportation industry, professional truck driving is often treated as piecework. Where most self-employed employees earn by the hour, truckers earn by the miles.

You will see the payment as "cost per mile" or CPM, which is the rate you will earn as a truck driver. The CPM and the number of miles you can travel in a day determine the earning potential of your OTR job.

In daily work you will have to assume loading and unloading waiting times, speed limits, traffic, etc. So a realistic distance that you will be able to cover in one day is around 450 miles.

State and federal regulations governing interstate trucking also impose strict limits on the number of hours you work.

Payments that improve the salary package

If your earnings are based on CPM and you have an employer who values ​​your work, Chances are you will receive other payments to make up for the daily waiting time of your job or any incident that reduces your productive hours. Examples of this include:

• Performance bonus of up to 0.05 CPM paid monthly or quarterly
• Referral bonus of $ 2,000 per hire or more
• Billing bonus of $ 6,000 or more
• Payment for waiting times due to stops or operational delays
• Attractive medical, dental and other insurance packages

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